Michigan
Central Michigan
Fronzoni's Hat Trick Lifts Wolverines Over Chippewas
9/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Field Hockey
Site: Ann Arbor, Mich. (Ocker Field)
Score: Michigan 5, Central Michigan 0
Records: U-M (2-1), CMU (3-1)
Next U-M Match: Sunday, Sept. 8 -- vs. Ball State (Ocker Field), 1 p.m.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Opening a nine-game homestand, the University of Michigan field hockey team used a hat trick by junior forward April Fronzoni (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West HS) as well as goals by forward Jessica Rose (Lititz, Pa./Lititz HS) and junior defender Stephanie Johnson (Houston, Texas/The Kinkaid School) to power past visiting Central Michigan, downing the Chippewas by a 5-0 margin Saturday morning (Sept. 7) at Ocker Field.
In addition to the Michigan offense, which tallied 31 shots in the game, the Wolverines defense limited the Chippewas to five shots, including one in the second half, and allowed just two balls to reach sophomore goalkeeper Molly Maloney (Lake Bluff, Ill./Lake Forest HS), who posted her second shutout of the season.
Fronzoni got the Wolverines on the board 13:28 into the game during a penalty corner situation, scoring the first of three goals by tipping in a blast from junior defender Kristi Gannon (Escondido, Calif./San Pasqual HS). Fronzoni beat CMU keeper Janel Spero on the right side of the cage, redirecting Gannon's shot from the top of the circle.
Less than two minutes later at 15:14, Rose gave U-M a two-goal advantage when she converted a point-blank shot, in traffic, from in front of the net. Junior forward/midfielder Laura Woitkewitsch (Cologne, Germany/Freidrich-Wilhelm) set her up from the right side of the cage and Rose completed the play by sweeping the ball past Spero.
Fronzoni rounded out the scoring in the first half with a beautiful individual effort to secure her second multi-goal game of the season. After receiving a clearing pass at midfield, Fronzoni sprinted to the goal, splitting two Central defenders, and got a shot off while she was being tripped. The ball sailed over Spero, who was rushing out to challenge Fronzoni's scoring chance.
In the second half, Fronzoni completed the hat trick, tipping in a shot from Johnson during a Michigan penalty corner. Johnson shot it from the top of the circle, and Fronzoni sent the ball off a CMU defender and into the cage. Johnson completed the scoring less than three minutes later at 48:20 when she converted a penalty corner, sending the ball to the left corner of the cage.
Spero, who made six saves in the contest, was chased from the net at 48:20 in favor of Kerri Klasnow, who saw action for 14:45 of the second half, making one save. CMU also gave playing time to Laura Plese for the final 6:54 of the game.
Maloney, registering her second win of the year by virtue of a shutout, stopped both of Central's shots on goal.
The Wolverines will continue their nine-game homestand on Sunday (Sept. 8), hosting Ball State at 1 p.m.
MATCH SUMMARY
| Team | 1 | 2 | F |
| Central Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Michigan | 3 | 2 | 5 |
Scoring, Time (Assist)
1st -- U-M, April Fronzoni, 13:28 (Kristi Gannon)
1st -- U-M, Jessica Rose, 15:14 (Laura Woitkewitsch)
1st -- U-M, Fronzoni, 21:08 (unassisted)
2nd -- U-M, Fronzoni, 45:28 (Stephanie Johnson)
2nd -- U-M, Johnson, 48:20 (Adrienne Hortillosa, Katy Moyneur)
Shots: U-M 31, CMU 5
Saves: U-M 2 (Molly Maloney), CMU 7 (Janel Spero 6, Kerri Krasnow 1)
Defensive Saves: None
Penalty Corners: U-M 16, CMU 3
Penalty Strokes: None
QUOTES
Michigan Head Coach Marcia Pankratz
On April Fronzoni's second goal ... "It was gorgeous, one of the best goals I've seen since I've been here. It was beautiful -- she's being tripped, she's in mid-air, and make a diving Bobby Orr overtime goal (from the Stanley Cup playoffs in the 1970s). She has unmatched speed, and when she's on and she's running well, like she was today, nobody can really stop her. She had a really wonderful game."
On the game ... "It's hard to play against a team that is more unorthodox and a team we haven't seen in a while and don't see that often. I felt we were trying to do the tactics that we had established, and we had a chance to practice some corners. It was a good day for us."
U-M Junior Forward April Fronzoni
On her second goal ... "I was thinking about it (shooting high), but it doesn't always happen, and today it did happen. It was in my train of thought because I knew she (Janel Spero) was going to come out and probably slide."
On Sunday's game against Ball State ... "We want to be focused. We had a little mental breakdown against Wake Forest right after our win against North Carolina, so we want to go in strong and focus on that. It should be a good game."
NOTES
• April Fronzoni moved into a tie for sixth place on Michigan's career goal-scoring chart, tying the mark set by Marty Maugh (35 from 1980-83). Fronzoni is four markers away from the fifth spot, held by Kay McCarthy (39 from 1980-83).
• Fronzoni also moved from 10th place to eighth place on the career points chart, passing Lisa Schofield (1981-84) and Judy Burinskas (1986-89), who each had recorded 73 points in their careers. Fronzoni has 78 points, just two away from seventh place, held by Dawn Kohut (80, 1976-77).
• Fronzoni posted her fifth career hat trick. She has registered a three-goal game in each of her three seasons at U-M.
• In each of Michigan's two wins this season, Fronzoni has posted two or more goals, and she has U-M's game-winning goal in each of its two wins.
• Molly Maloney posted her second shutout of the season and is 1.5 shutouts away from equaling her shutout total from her freshman year in 2000. Maloney tallied 3.5 shutouts in 10 games during the 2000 campaign.
• Laura Woitkewitsch tallied her first career point with an assist on Michigan's second goal.
• Both of Michigan's wins this season have come by virtue of shutout.
